Dollar General partners to open mobile health clinics
Dollar General is the latest retailer to expand into health care clinic services.
The discounter is partnering with DocGo Inc., a provider of mobile health and transportation services, to pilot mobile health clinics. The clinics are located in vans that are set up in the parking lots of three Dollar General stores in Tennessee, with two in Clarksville and one in Cumberland Furnace. Although appointments are recommended, visits are also available for walk-ins.
In 2021, Dollar General announced plans to expand its health care offerings and appointed Dr. Albert Wu as its first chief medical officer. In July 2022, Dollar General announced the appointment of four members to its new healthcare advisory panel.
Operated as part of Dollar General’s Wellbeing initiative, the mobile clinics offer a wide range of preventive care services, including routine checkups, vaccinations/immunizations, recommended screenings, lab testing, diagnostics such as EKGs and kids’ sports physicals, and more.
In addition, the clinics provide urgent care services and chronic condition management for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“We’re excited to pilot new mobile health clinics with services provided by DocGo On-Demand to provide services including annual physicals, acute illness, urgent care needs, vaccinations, and lab testing,” said Dr. Wu, as reported by Medical Economics. “These clinics demonstrate our ability and desire to work with our customers to bring affordable health and wellness closer to home while equally establishing Dollar General as a trusted partner where customers can access health services.”
Dollar General’s push into health care services comes as pharmacy and other retailers are also increasing their focus on health care. In November, Walgreens’ Village MD unit entered into a deal to buy Summit Health-CityMD. In addition to CityMD urgent care centers, Summit Health operates independent physician-run medical groups. And in September, CVS Health reached an agreement to acquire health care company Signify Health.
Meanwhile, Walmart continues to expand its freestanding health care concept, Walmart Health. Amazon also continues to make inroads in the market.
“We’re thrilled to expand our existing footprint in Nashville and reach new patients by partnering with a nationally recognized company like Dollar General,” stated Aaron Severs, DocGo chief product officer. “Improving health care accessibility and providing care to patients where and when they need it most is our primary goal, and we are confident that this partnership is another step forward in the right direction.”